Want China Times
Editorial
Date: 2015-08-02
Both the United States and Japan have warned that the cross-Taiwan Strait military balance
Tsai Ing-wen gives a press conference in Taipei, July 22. (Photo/CNA)
is tipping in China’s favor. They believe China is dedicated to building big landing ships and Zubr-class air-cushioned landing craft to improve its ability to launch an assault on the island. China also has an overwhelming quantitative edge in sea and air forces, and is also surpassing Taiwan qualitatively.
Although Taiwan has stepped up its ballistic missile capabilities, it will not be able to effectively counter the majority of China’s missiles.
Even more significant is China’s development of an “anti-intervention” strategy based on a strategic mindset of “whether or not to attack depends on Taiwan, how to attack depends on China, and how long the battle will last depends on the United States.”
Such a mindset will dramatically increase the costs associated with the US and Japan intervening in a cross-strait conflict, and Taiwan can no longer rely on the protection of the two countries for its security. [FULL STORY]
